Hunger surges in Haiti as gang violence, high food prices and a supercharged El Niño persist

Nearly six million people in Haiti are facing severe hunger, with nearly two million in emergency conditions, according to a new report released Wednesday. A combination of gang violence, high food prices, and an extreme El Niño weather phenomenon is contributing to the crisis. The U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization reported that 5.94 million people are experiencing acute food insecurity, which is one of the highest levels in the world.

More than half of Haiti's population struggles to consistently access sufficient food, and the number of severe hunger cases is expected to reach 6.35 million people by mid-2027. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis, published by the U.N., highlights the alarming situation. Since April, the number of Haitians facing severe hunger has increased by nearly a quarter of a million.

Gang violence in Haiti's central region has forced farmers off their lands, blocking main roads and preventing goods from reaching the capital and other areas. Cash and food aid, including rice and beans, are provided to alleviate the hunger, but challenges remain, especially in reaching those left homeless by gang violence.